audiocoach

Hi,

Does anyone know what the latest status of the 2 to 3 year residency
requirement for citizenship? Is it still going through this year or
may it get pushed back a year or more?

Thanks,

Alex

karlos

Alex,

Just read this on the citizenship website:-

Timing of the changes
Commencement of the legislation is subject to its consideration and passage through the Australian Parliament. However, 26 January 2007, Australia Day, is being used for planning purposes as the implementation date. Australia Day is the anniversary of the commencement in 1949 of the concept and reality of Australian citizenship.

Here's the link:-
http://www.citizenship.gov.au/citz_bill_2005/

The page was updated last week.

CathnPaul

this is a cracking link...cheers for that.

spunkytiger82

I know with citizenship if you marry a Aussie then you can apply for citizenship but does that still apply if your on your granted teh skilled independant visa because normally for that you'dhave to wait the 2-3 years.

Just I'm an Aussie and my husband to be is applying for the visa but wonders if he has to wait the time to be a citizen.

Thanks

Pollyana

Why aren't you going by the spouse visa route - quicker and cheaper!

However, whichever route you go by there is no entitlement to citizenship merely on the grounds if being married to an Aussie (unfortunately!). You still have to do the time on PR - currently 2 years, soon to become 3, before citizenship can be applied for.
Even time on the temp part of the spouse visa doesn't count.

spunkytiger82

Thanks, I thought that might be the case..

JAJ

Not everyone on a spouse visa has to spend time on a temporary visa first.

And under the new proposed law which increases the residence period to 3 years, there will likely be a 2 year credit for temporary residence before PR (at least DIMA have said as much before the Senate).

Pollyana

Fingers crossed!

George Lombard

The latest news is that the bill is now planned to become law on 26 January 2007. There will, it is rumoured, be transitional provisions to allow some people to qualify who'd have otherwise had to wait another year, not sure if they'll retrospectively include temporary spouse visa time.

Cheers,

George Lombard

www.austimmigration.com.au

JAJ

The way it's likely to work (if they do exempt existing PRs) is that the applicant will have a choice of applying under the existing or new rules for a period of time.

So for those coming off temporary spouse visas, the choice will either be 2 years PR or 3 years in total including 1 year PR. Some people will likely qualify for citizenship sooner under the new law rather than the existing one.

jeeva

I really hope that rumour to be true. May be they are actually considering exisiting PRs in the parliamentry inquiry into the citizenship bill 2005 - I'm very keen to know of the outcome. If they introduce the new rule on Jan 26,2007 and don't consider exisiting PRs, then I would fall short by 3.5 months to complete 2 years and miss out on the opportunity to apply under current rule.

Pollyana

If that coms off, then it could be good news. April 5th next year I will have 1 year PR, plus 2 years 5 months temp residence. Heres hoping........

ali n ali

Does anyone know if we can apply for citizenship if we have a baby in Aus , before our 2 / 3 years are up ?

JAJ

The baby will be Australian at birth if you are PRs. But having a baby makes no difference to the residence requirement for grant of citizenship, sorry.

rammygirl

What's the deal with business skills 4 year temporary residence how long in effect before we can apply for citizenship?
Am I right in thinking it could be as soon as 5 years in total rather than the 8 years (4 TR + 3PR)?

Rammygirl